2006年VOA标准英语-Sole Survivor of Deadly US Mining Disaster

By Stephanie Ho
Washington
04 January 2006

The sole survivor¹ in a coal mining disaster in the U.S. state of West Virginia was the youngest of the 13 miners who were trapped 80 meters underground, following an explosion Monday morning.

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West Virginia First Lady Gayle Manchin, center, escorts Anna McCloy, the wife of Randal McCloy
  

Randal McCloy, 27, may be the most famous man in West Virginia right now. He is the only survivor of a blast two days ago at the Sago Mine.

Mr. McCloy is now being treated at West Virginia University Hospital, where Dr. Larry Roberts told reporters the surviving miner's vital functions are generally stable.

"He couldn't talk because he has a breathing tube in, but squeezing hands and facial expressions when he was talking to his wife," he said.

Initial reports had said 12 of the 13 trapped miners were found alive. The scene became chaotic² when celebrating family and friends learned the true situation, that 12 of the miners had actually died.

Ben Hatfield    
  
The mine's owner, International Coal Group, took three hours to correct the error. Chief Executive Officer Ben Hatfield defended the company's actions.

"We made what we believed to be the best decisions, based on the information available, while working under extreme stress or physical exhaustion," he said. "We sincerely regret the manner in which the events unfolded earlier this morning. The occurrences at the Sago Mine over the past couple of days are truly a great tragedy. It is unfortunate and we are saddened that the communication problems we experienced last night only added to the terrible tragedy."

The delay also proved embarrassing for several leading U.S. newspapers, which did not get the corrected information before early editions went to print. As a result, some papers headlined the false report.

From Washington, President Bush expressed his sympathy to the victims of the incident and their families.

"We send our prayers and heartfelt condolences to the loved ones whose hearts are broken," he said. "We ask that the good lord comfort them in their time of need."

White House spokesman Scott McClellan added that the Bush administration has proposed a four-fold increase in fines for violations³ of Mine Safety and Health Administration regulations.

The International Coal Group's Mr. Hatfield says all of the bodies of the deceased have been identified and removed from the mine. He added that authorities are starting an investigation⁴ into the incident.

This is the worst U.S. mining disaster since 2001, when an explosion in Alabama killed 13 people.

1 survivor   

n.生存者，残存者，幸存者

参考例句：

• The sole survivor of the crash was an infant.这次撞车的惟一幸存者是一个婴儿。
• There was only one survivor of the plane crash.这次飞机失事中只有一名幸存者。

2 chaotic   

adj.混沌的，一片混乱的，一团糟的

参考例句：

• Things have been getting chaotic in the office recently.最近办公室的情况越来越乱了。
• The traffic in the city was chaotic.这城市的交通糟透了。

3 violations   

违反( violation的名词复数 )； 冒犯； 违反（行为、事例）； 强奸

参考例句：

• This is one of the commonest traffic violations. 这是常见的违反交通规则之例。
• These violations of the code must cease forthwith. 这些违犯法规的行为必须立即停止。

4 investigation   

n.调查，调查研究

参考例句：

• In an investigation,a new fact became known, which told against him.在调查中新发现了一件对他不利的事实。
• He drew the conclusion by building on his own investigation.他根据自己的调查研究作出结论。